MEN'S TRACK & FIELD

Curtin places 26th at NCAA East Preliminary Round

TAMPA, Fla. - Charleston Southern freshman Fearghal Curtin took on the men's 5000m field at the 2018 NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Saturday evening at the USF Track & Field Stadium.

The Cork, Ireland native finished 11th overall in the second heat with a time of 14:32.64. His time was 26th overall in the field to finish up his freshman campaign at CSU. The top five qualifiers from each of the two heats, as well as the next two best times advance to the National Championships.

Curtin grew stronger as the race went on turning in his fastest times on the eighth, ninth, and 10th laps of the race. His fastest split came at the 3400m mark with a lap of 1:05.04 to move temporarily up to seventh in the race, before fading at the end.

He finished two seconds ahead of his time at the Big South Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, but short of his season-best mark of 14:02.88 at the Florida Relays back in late March.

The 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be contested June 6-9 in Eugene, Ore. The meet will serve as the final competition at Hayward Field before the facility is rebuilt in preparation for the 2021 IAAF World Championships.

Twelve qualifiers in each event will also advance to Eugene from the NCAA Division I West Preliminary Round meet held in Sacramento, Calif.